Search - Stan Getz :: Getz Au Go Go

60's Summer In The City

Marc Flanagan | Santa Monica, Ca. | 08/07/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is a storied recording, reported to have been a studio album with audience sounds overdubbed...it doesn't sound that way,feels like a live recording. That being said, I don't care if it was taped in a phone booth, it's a great album. Getz sounds great and Gary Burton is on hand with his vibes and Astrud Gilberto is her mesmeric self. I love, "The Telephone Song" catchy and the band seems to be having fun and when Astrud laugh at the end it charms me so. I moved to New York in the late 60's and whenever I walked by The Cafe Au Go Go, I though of this album and it would start me humming "Summertime"."

It isn't live, but a good collection nevertheless

Eric J. Anderson | Ankeny, Iowa | 02/08/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The Astrud Gilberto Album has a better selection of songs.



Getz was surely more inspired on Getz/Gilberto and Jazz Samba.



Nevertheless, this is relaxing, enjoyable cool jazz. Astrud sings on five of these tunes. She sings very well, with the classic sound we love so well. I hate the English lyrics to One Note Samba, but that's not her fault. Anyone who knows these artists probably won't be awed, nor with they be disappointed by these performances. A solid 3½ to 4 stars.



I have no idea where the songs were recorded. Some of them are obviously studio recordings, because the acoustics are pretty dead -- with a little artificial reverb added. Also, the fact that there is no applause after the instrumental solos is a dead giveaway. Why would they paste applause recorded on a club date at the end of these studio recordings to try to fool the listener into thinking they were live tracks? I haven't a clue.



A few of the tracks are clearly live performances recorded in a small club. The sound quality is not quite up to the standard of the studio-recorded songs, but audience reactions and the acoustics of a jazz club are evident.



This is a pleasant album to add a little variety to your collection of Stan Getz or Astrud Gilberto. It is a document from an era when bossa nova burst onto the American scene, and jazz songs could actually get airtime on top 40 radio and turn into big hit records."